Mackenzie couldn’t sit Idle as they all waited for the Nyx to enter the planet’s orbit and the Beast to head out. Her stomach turned slightly in both excitement and hunger. She hadn’t really had much to eat before she donned her suit. Now, she sat beside Michael, her fingers tapped almost tirelessly across her data pad. She was re-running several diagnostic checks in preparation for the landing. She wanted to make sure data would be stored correctly and that there would be nothing in the files that might accidentally corrupt any incoming data. The Nyx made landfall.

Michael had begun some idle chit chat with her to which she was surprisingly interested in. Not so much in what he was talking about, but the fact that it seemed so human like. Was this behavior something he had learned or was it just programmed?  She made a note to herself to see if he engaged in the exact same conversation with someone else. She desperately wanted to run a diagnostic but she knew that was impossible during this mission. Not only were his files not kept in the main system, but she couldn’t just ask him to let her plug in right there. He was a secret after all.

When the Beast had finally come to a stop and everyone began to roll out, Mackenzie found herself a little out of sorts. Her job was really not all that critical in the field unless something broke. A few people asked her some questions about their droid’s operation, though. She answered them as quickly and clearly as she could. It was a skill she had been forced to learn during her time in service. Turns out that when a superior asks a question they want the Sparksnotes, not the textbook.

While everyone else bustled about, she watched Michael as he stared out at the mysterious orbs. Her gaze quickly followed his as she stepped up beside him.  She let out a long breath as she witnessed all the damage to surrounding structures the thing had caused. Something deep in gut told her something unusual had happened here. 

As Michael took several steps forward, Mackenzie reached out and touched his arm gently as she heard the sound of someone approaching. Both she and Michael turned to see two security personnel walk up to them. 

“Ms. Newton?”One of them asked with a familiar voice. She then realized he was the agent who had escorted her to see their chief. “I am Agent Edwards and this is Agent Gurrera. We will be accompanying the two of you. ”

Mackenzie just nodded her acknowledgment and Michael proceeded to introduce himself. Once that was all said and done they all set-off. Michael quickly took the lead leading them up a small looping path towards what seemed like a fully intact Orb.

 "We should be careful, make sure not to get too far from the Beast," Edwards stated as he looked around, his warning clear.

"Of course, safety should be a priority, though exploration is one as well. Who knows what we may find here? It's fascinating." Michael replied back with a smirk and they continued on.

Mackenzie stayed pretty much silent the entire trip up the metal path. She only looked over the edge once. She decided not to do that again. When they reached the top they found a bridge leading towards the orb. Michael looked back to her silently asking her if she wanted to continue. Even though it made her uneasy, she nodded.

"Dr. Newton and I wish to inspect the orb closer, is that alright?" Michael asked the Agents. It also seemed that Michael had not saved in his files that Mackenzie did not like to be called Doctor.

"Alright, just be careful. It's quite the drop from all the way up here. Gurrera and I will stay back."

Mackenzie gave Edwards an uneasy smile and thumbs up before she followed behind Michael. The feeling in her gut only intensified as they drew nearer to the orb. For a moment she thought she was going to be sick but she managed to push through it. 

When they were finally within an arm’s reach from it, she realized that the orb had intricate carvings all over its surface. She could not even begin to imagine what they said or meant. 

"I wonder what the purpose of this orb is?" Michael asked and then before she could answer he reached up to touch it. The Orb shimmered with a just barely visible blue light and just like that it opened to Michael’s touch. 

Mackenzie instinctively stepped back from the orb. Her eyes darting over the orb just in case something else happened. Nothing did. Then with horror, she realized that Michael was about to step inside the thing.

“No.  Wait!” she cried and reached out to stop him. It was already too late. The opening of the orb slammed shut with Michael now inside.  Against instinct, she rushed forward. 

“Michael!” she banged on the orb and hoped that it would reopen for her. However, it did not.

“Is everything alright Dr. Newton?” Edwards asked over the coms after having noticed the sudden commotion. 

“Michael… he, is inside the orb…I...I... can’t open it” she banged on the orb again, the fear apparent in her stuttering.

“Stay calm, we will be right there,” Edwards replied back as he and Gurrera rushed across the bridge to access the situation. 

Then suddenly the orb began to vibrate violently. To Mackenzie’s utter shock and bewilderment, it then fell apart leaving only the floor and Michael in one piece. As far as she could tell he didn’t appear to be harmed in any way but then she realized that for those brief moments she had completely forgotten he wasn’t even human. Breathing heavily she looked down at the thing he held out in his hand. It was like the orb he had just come out of, only much smaller. 

 In the next moments, Edwards and Gurrera arrived and canvassed the area for any more immediate threats. When none were found they began to question Michael. It was then that Mackenzie needed to step away to calm herself.  Going only a short distance away she turned her back to them to hide the small shake her hands. That’s when she remembered exactly why she hadn’t been cut out for the service. 

“Are you alright Dr. Newton?” Edwards asked stepping up beside her.
“DON’T…” She suddenly snapped then stopped herself. She took in a deep breath and continued. “Ms. Newton was fine.”

“Alright, Ms. Newton I need you to tell me what happened as you best you can”

“ Yes, of course”